What have they done to your Cuba cruise?

[mrgame101]

I just checked online for 06/15 Majesty and appears day 4 is Nassau. Which is what I expected

[saharaga]

October 23, 2019 Havana and Cozumel- looks like it has been changed to Costa Maya and Cozumel. My clients will definitely be changing ships. 

[mugtech]

Took a cruise that made 3 stops in Vietnam in March.  Guess I was supporting communism.

[rghermes]

10 minutes ago, mrgame101 said:

I just checked online for 06/15 Majesty and appears day 4 is Nassau. Which is what I expected

 

I see that too. Wonder if we will get some sort of credit?

[shirleygr]

Four night Majesty July 13 cruise to Cuba just became Nassau. Whoopee. I hope RC offers some compensation for this. I don't intend to even get off the ship.

[Biker19]

17 minutes ago, bobbyandali said:

 

I can only travel to Cuba, if I'm not on a cruise ship, and I already booked it. 

That's a significant set of restrictions.

You can still travel under these OFAC licenses: family visits; official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations; journalistic activity; professional research and professional meetings; educational activities; religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; support for the Cuban people; humanitarian projects; activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials; and certain authorized export transactions.

[mrgame101]

3 minutes ago, rghermes said:

 

I see that too. Wonder if we will get some sort of credit?

 

I am thinking that will be in the official email that should come around 6pm? 

[orville99]

12 minutes ago, mugtech said:

Took a cruise that made 3 stops in Vietnam in March.  Guess I was supporting communism.

You’re comparing apples to aardvarks. 

[rghermes]

2 minutes ago, mrgame101 said:

 

I am thinking that will be in the official email that should come around 6pm? 

 

If we get the 50% off deal that the cruises leaving today and tomorrow are getting, I would be good with that.

[mrgame101]

1 minute ago, rghermes said:

 

If we get the 50% off deal that the cruises leaving today and tomorrow are getting, I would be good with that.

 

I agree! I am not expecting that much, but will be happy with that!!!!

[bobbyandali]

6 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

You can still travel under these OFAC licenses: family visits; official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations; journalistic activity; professional research and professional meetings; educational activities; religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; support for the Cuban people; humanitarian projects; activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials; and certain authorized export transactions.

BUT YOU CAN'T TRAVEL ON A CRUISE BOAT.

Why is this so hard to understand? 

[ONECRUISER]

28 minutes ago, rghermes said:

 

If we get the 50% off deal that the cruises leaving today and tomorrow are getting, I would be good with that.

At some point, soon, no one will get Credit. Usually offered only week or two. Feel for you but stuff like this happens, had dozens Port changes over the yrs...

[rghermes]

2 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

At some point, soon, no one will get Credit. Usually offered only week or two. Feel for you but stuff like this happens, had dozens Port changes over the yrs...

 

Fully Understand. My cruise leaves in less than a week.

[coaster]

9 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

At some point, soon, no one will get Credit. Usually offered only week or two. Feel for you but stuff like this happens, had dozens Port changes over the yrs...

This situation is different. Older ships that normally would be retired and sent to Pullmantur. Prices were set high just because of porting in Cuba as mentioned many times here.

 

I went on Empress back in July 2016 before the Cuba cruises began. Paid a much lower price than what the Cuba sailings were priced at. I was happy as the price was very good and I like the older and smaller ships. I know I am in the minority in my preference though.

Edited June 5, 2019 by coaster

[belugos]

47 minutes ago, rghermes said:

 

If we get the 50% off deal that the cruises leaving today and tomorrow are getting, I would be good with that.

Same here... leaving this Saturday. No official word from RC yet.

 

When I log in to my RC account the new itinerary appears.. when I go to the cruise planner, Havana is still there.

[markbach]

Just posted on https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates and tweeted out....

 

Effective immediately, the U.S. government has implemented new regulations that prohibits travel from the U.S. to Cuba by cruise ship. This change requires us to immediately replace all Cuban ports. For all 2019 sailings on both Majesty of the Seas and Empress of the Seas, we have secured alternative ports and we are in the process of communicating the new itineraries to our guests and travel partners. For these guests, they will have the option of remaining on their sailing with the new itinerary and receiving a 50% refund or they may cancel their cruise and receive a full refund.

 

For 2020 sailings on both Majesty and Empress of the Seas, we are working to secure alternative itineraries and expect to be able to communicate to our guests and travel partners within the next week. 

 

We are sorry for this unexpected and sudden change to our guests’ upcoming vacations and appreciate their understanding. 
 

[Tony O]

I just cheecked and my Empress cruise in December  2019 is still showing all 3 of the Cuban ports

[rghermes]

Cuba Travel Policy Update - June 05, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. (EDT)

 

Effective immediately, the U.S. government has implemented new regulations that prohibits travel from the U.S. to Cuba by cruise ship. This change requires us to immediately replace all Cuban ports. For all 2019 sailings on both Majesty of the Seas and Empress of the Seas, we have secured alternative ports and we are in the process of communicating the new itineraries to our guests and travel partners. For these guests, they will have the option of remaining on their sailing with the new itinerary and receiving a 50% refund or they may cancel their cruise and receive a full refund.

For 2020 sailings on both Majesty and Empress of the Seas, we are working to secure alternative itineraries and expect to be able to communicate to our guests and travel partners within the next week.

We are sorry for this unexpected and sudden change to our guests’ upcoming vacations and appreciate their understanding.

[johnjen]

My co-worker thinks the Empress is actually docked right now in Havana. I was hoping to hear from one of the cruisers on that cruise right now, they're scheduled in Havana today. Wonder what the latest is? Are they ok to leave the ship or is it just going to sit there tied to the pier?

[Tree_skier]

4 minutes ago, markbach said:

Just posted on https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates and tweeted out....

 

Effective immediately, the U.S. government has implemented new regulations that prohibits travel from the U.S. to Cuba by cruise ship. This change requires us to immediately replace all Cuban ports. For all 2019 sailings on both Majesty of the Seas and Empress of the Seas, we have secured alternative ports and we are in the process of communicating the new itineraries to our guests and travel partners. For these guests, they will have the option of remaining on their sailing with the new itinerary and receiving a 50% refund or they may cancel their cruise and receive a full refund.

 

For 2020 sailings on both Majesty and Empress of the Seas, we are working to secure alternative itineraries and expect to be able to communicate to our guests and travel partners within the next week. 

 

We are sorry for this unexpected and sudden change to our guests’ upcoming vacations and appreciate their understanding. 
 

Well there you have it.  I think that that is more than fair from RC for all concerned.  If your were a Cuba or nothing kind of person. RC will give you a full refund.  Still willing to get on the ship and go somewhere... Get a significant reduction in cost and enjoy the pleasure of cruising.  

[awestover89]

Delete

Edited June 5, 2019 by awestover89

[toad455]

So how soon before Empress of the Seas is retired again?

[shellunderwater]

Hot diggity!  50% off our cruise!  Cha-ching.

 

Now, I will admit, I'm certain this upsets many people, and I understand that and feel bad their plans are impacted.  But for us, we were doing this cruise for the vacation and the ports really didn't matter.  We weren't opposed to Havana, but it wasn't a deciding factor.

[Dem920]

Update on Royals Website

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/does-the-june-4-statement-impact-cruises-to-cuba?_ga=2.10477936.414275020.1559733868-94925252.1554676019

[Beav1279]

31 minutes ago, coaster said:

I went on Empress back in July 2016 before the Cuba cruises began. Paid a much lower price than what the Cuba sailings were priced at. I was happy as the price was very good and I like the older and smaller ships. I know I am in the minority in my preference though.

I've been on both Empress and Majesty - one to Cuba and one not - and I really like the smaller ship. The crew is amazing and you get the chance to see and do everything!